AN ANTIINFLAMMATORY COMPONENT DERIVED FROM MILK OF HYPERIMMUNISED COWS REDUCES TIGHT JUNCTION PERMEABILITY IN-VITRO

Objective and Design: Effects of hyperimmune milk factor (HIMF), an an ti-inflammatory factor from milk of hyperimmunised cows, on tight junc tion permeability and cell growth were studied in vitro. Material or S ubjects: Mammary (HC11) and kidney (MDCK) epithelial cell lines were u sed. Treatment: HIMF was used at a final concentration of 2 mg/ml. Met hods: Tight junction permeability was assessed by measuring transepith elial electrical resistance (TER) across confluent monolayers, followi ng the addition of HIMF with or without an inflammatory challenge. Cel l growth was assessed by measuring total DNA of cultures with and with out HIMF. Data were analysed by analyses of variance. Results: HMIF pr omoted tight junction formation and prevented loss of TER following a challenge in both epithelia. Post-challenge recovery of TER was also f aster with HIMF. HIMF inhibited cell growth. Conclusions: HIMF stimula tes tight junction maintenance and formation, and its previously repor ted anti-inflammatory properties may be mediated by restricting the ex travasation of white blood cells through tight junctions.